Dundalk beat Cork City 2-0

Dundalk finally got their first home win as they secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Cork City on Friday night.

Goals in the last 15 minutes from John Mountney and Patrick Hoban gave the Lilywhites the win in what was an entertaining match in front of the RTE cameras.

Stephen Kenny made one change from the side that defeated Bohemians a week ago with John Mountney replacing the suspended John Dillon, while for the visitors made two changes from the starting XI which crashed out of the Setanta Cup on Monday with Colin Healy and Garry Buckley coming in for Darren Dennehy and Dan Murray.

It was a cagey opening to the game as both sides tried to come to grips with the tricky conditions however it was Dundalk who managed the first chance of note when Richie Towell’s shot from the edge of the box flashed past the left hand post.

After 15 minutes, Cork City registered their first shot when Daryl Horgan shot wide from 20 yards after Gearoid Morrissey had picked him out on the left wing. Danny Furlong then failed to hit the target from distance despite having considerable space to shoot.

Vinny Faherty then snatched at a shot on the edge of the Cork City box after capitalising on some poor defending. The hosts then had two golden opportunities to take the lead. Just before the half hour mark, John Sullivan whipped in a perfect cross which found Faherty free in the centre of the six yard box however he could only head over.

Moments later, Faherty had another good opportunity. John Mountney retrieved the ball on the right hand side and drilled a low cross into the box which found the former Galway United star unmarked once more however he could only blaze over from 18 yards.

Keith Ward then tried his luck from long range and made Mark McNulty scramble across his goal to palm away for a corner. The half did have its controversy as Towell had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside just before the break.

It remained scoreless at the break but there were signs that the home side were assuming control and after the restart, they should have taken the lead.

First, Andy Boyle headed over from a Ward corner in the 47th minute before Towell’s scuffed effort seemed destined for the net only to be blocked. The ball still wasn’t cleared and Stephen O’Donnell headed inches over from 12 yards.

The Leesiders had their first effort of the half immediately after when Ian Turner found space on the right and he squared for the free Daryl Kavanagh but he pulled his shot wide of the left hand post.

Tiarnan Mulvenna then had the best chance of the match to put his Dundalk in front. Sullivan’s hopeful punt forward caught out the Cork City defence and it made its way to the Dundalk native who created space and with only McNulty to beat he somehow shot wide. Another glorious chance went a begging.

Despite another missed opportunity, the Lilywhites remained patient and deservedly took the lead with 15 minutes remaining. A clever throw-in from Sullivan was chased by Mountney who unleashed an outstanding half volley from  just outside the box which looped over the stranded McNulty who could only watch as the ball nestled in the net.

The goal was no more than the hosts deserved. Ward almost scored a second when his cross turn shot crashed off the crossbar. Dundalk then looked happy with their lead however always looked very dangerous on the break despite some Cork City attacks.

The Lilywhites made sure of the points in injury-time when substitute Patrick Hoban was brought down by Colin Healy on the edge of the box. Ward struck a wonderful free-kick which crashed off the bar however Hoban was on hand to head home the loose from close range to put the hosts two goals to the good.

Ward once again had an effort from long range saved by McNulty before Peter Cherrie beat away a Denis Behan effort but it would only have been a consolation.

It finished 2-0 to Dundalk who were full value for three points and in claiming the victory, the Lilywhites won back-to-back league matches for the first time since June 2011!

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; John Sullivan, Mark Rossiter, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Stephen O’Donnell ©, Richie Towell; John Mountney (Darren Meenan 82), Keith Ward; Tiarnan Mulvenna (Kurtis Byrne 87), Vinny Faherty (Patrick Hoban 67).
Unused substitutes: Eoghan Osborne, Stephen McDonnell, Ciaran O’Connor, Aaron Shanahan (GK).

Bookings: None.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Ian Turner, Garry Buckley, Neal Horgan (Adam Rundle 82), Danny Murphy; Shane Duggan, Colin Healy ©, Gearoid Morrissey, Daryl Horgan; Danny Furlong (Denis Behan 64), Daryl Kavanagh (Danny Morrissey 82).
Subs not used: Kevin Burns, Kalen Spillane, Stephen Kenny, John Kavanagh.

Bookings: Buckley (18), Duggan (58), Murphy (72), Healy (90).

Referee: Paul Tuite.
Attendance: 1,189
Extratime Man of the Match: Richei Towell (Dundalk).